First why the different names the correct name is SAMBO but
because of our pre occupation with racism in the English speaking nations, it
was decided to call our discipline SOMBO in the English speaking world.

Sambo in reality is a Jacket Wrestling Sport, wrestling
with Jackets is not unusual throughout the World styles such as Cornish,Kurash, Chidaoba, Khapsagay, Gulesh, and Trinta have been around for
centuries. Wrestling is most probably the oldest sport in the world a unique way
of settling an argument without anyone getting killed and it is not surprising
in Countries where the climate was very seansonal they would wrestle in clothing
and hot countries without clothing. Over a hundred years ago a new Jacket
Wrestling style came on the scene and this was called Judo and was developed by
Jigaro Kano, Judo was to become the biggest Jacket Wrestling sport in the World,
yet it was more the a Sport it was to become a Philosophy for life. When Jigaro
Kano started Judo, Russian
Vasili Oshchepkov became one of his pupils
when he returned to the Soviet union he was asked to develop a self Defence
system he based this on his knowledge of Judo, other Jacket Wrestling styles and
striking styles. He realised that Soldiers needed to be fit and strong plus they
needed a system which they could actually practise with out getting injured.
Sambo went to become a Wrestling Sport while Judo became a sport and Martial
Art.

Samboist wear tight fitting Jacket, shorts and soft soled
boots, they fight on a cushioned Mat area within a circle similar to Olympic
Wrestling. They score 1pt, 2pt, 2pt and total Victory throws, points for holding
someone on the ground but no total victory, finally total victory for arm and
leg lock submission. Many Judoka consider Sambo a bastardised form of Judo this
far from the truth in fact Sambo competitions are far superior to Judo, in Sambo
all scores are indicated by the referees hand 1 pt is indicted by a closed fist
with the thumb showing, 2pts thumb and a finger, 4pts and a total Victory is the
arm raised above the head. A Match starts on a whistle and finishes on a
whistle, competitors wear a Red and blue jacket, referee indicates with a red or
blue sleeve, throws are easy to judge for example Total Victory throw someone on
there back and main standing, gripping is not restrictive with in 10 minutes a
complete novice can understand a Sambo Match. This can not be said of Judo all
commands are given in Japanese, scores have different hand signals, referees do
not indicate what player has scored, only limited holding positions are allowed,
some scores are not accumulative, some are, try and explain how a Judo match is
fought and your Novice will lose interest in hour.

It is said that Jigaro Kano was not in favour of to much
emphasis being put on Contest but if he would return I am sure he would prefer
the Rules of Sambo to that of modern day Judo. In the UK Judo is on the decline
and I expect the same can be said of the International scene as well, while the
growth of International Sambo has been phenomenal over the last 10 years. NO
Sambo is not a popular as Judo but with TV taking over most sports, also sports
having to adapt to TV it will be Sambo that has colour rules easy to learn and
easy to follow. So all you wrestlers and judo Players do not give up your sport
just come and try SAMBO